Friendship Forest
According to a Chinese proverb- The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Friendship Forest responds to this by breaking down barriers by uniting residents in the act of planting trees. The project creates a process of caring for the city and each other.
Friendship Forest paired volunteers together to plant 144 trees in one day at Lower Landing in downtown St. Paul, on the banks of the Mississippi River. City arborists assisted the teams in the act of planting a tree. Prompted with questions, participants talked about themselves, and at the completion of planting, each team named their tree.
This project was both the planting event and a 100 year research project with the U of MN. The research was testing how smaller trees and different species could catch up and surpass larger more traditional species. Trees at the site are experiencing both urban compacted soil and current climate change conditions, which is what most city trees are currently facing.
Friendship Forest strengthened our resilience by growing a connected community, enhancing our cities urban canopy and physically reconnecting people to the banks of the Mississippi River and nature.
PARTNERS
University of MN Forestry Department, City of St Paul, Mississippi Park Connection
FUNDERS
Knight City Challenge
Knight Foundation
Friendship Forest - 4 mins. from Kevin Obsatz on Vimeo.
https://www.friendshipforestmn.com/